Thursday, April 3, 2008

Our Journey!!!!

I have felt like our family has been in transition and on this large journey since Mike and I got married in 2004. When we first got married Mike and I were both working in the insurance industry and I knew that it wasn't where Mike was suppose to be. So, right away we started trying to figure out where it was that we wanted to be and what he really wanted to be doing. One day while randomly searching the Internet for jobs, I came across a job posting in Southern California that I thought just sounded like Mike. Everything about the job just seemed to be Mike. So, I showed this posting to Mike to see what he thought. And he really seemed to be interested. Now, this was in June of 2004. We started looking into what he would have to do to get this job and he realized that he would have to take a few classes and then apply for a certificate in California and then he could start into a training program that would put him into the position. So, as soon as he could he started taking classes to get the credits that he needed. Once he started taking the classes it seemed to become clear that we needed Mike to really go back to school eventually and get a graduate degree. In the mean time we got pregnant and had Juliana. Juliana seemed to make this goal more of a driving force, now it wasn't just a dream it was actually what we were going to do. It seemed to take forever but, in February 2006 Mike and I got great news that we had been offered a training position in the Bay Area California to train to be a Public Health Microbiologist. So, we picked up and we moved. It was so nice to move to the Bay Area because we actually had family here. My Dads twin brother and his family live here and it has been such a wonderful experience to grow so close to them. Mike and I were separated for the first couple of months. Mike moved to the Bay Area and I went home to Utah with my parents and Juliana. Once Mike was able to secure housing and after few months of the training under his belt we were able to finally move to the Bay Area also. It seemed that no sooner than moving here our focus was then changed to the next goal...graduate school. Mike's training ended in August 2006 and he started actually working for the lab and started getting ready for the GRE and the Biology Exam. We had plans for starting back to school Fall 2007 but, after some disappointment we weren't able to get all of our letters of recommendation in time. It was very disappointing but we had to just move forward. So this brings us to the present day. We have been accepted to Graduate School.


I really wish that you could read the T-shirt better!!! But......









Mike was excepted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in their Cellualr and Molecular Biology Graduate Program. Yes, we will be moving to Birmingham Alabama!!!!! Wow!!! What a change it will be for us. It is very exciting and very scary all at the same time. We will be moving the first part of August and the program will be starting around the 19th of August. It has taken us 4 years to get here, but I am so proud of all the hard work that Mike has put in to get us here. He really is a great Man!!!!

So, Alabama here we come!!!!!

10 comments:

Sasha said...

Congrats! That is awesome! I hope I can see you before you move so far!

Erika said...

Wow! What a move! Best of luck and congratulations!

Natalie said...

Congratulations! I know how exciting it is! You will have a great adventure in Alabama. Just come visit Utah soon, please!!

Nicole said...

So cool! I am loving your little Alabama logo and tshirts. Someone TREMENDOUSLY talented must have come up with that! :)

Perry Family said...

Sweet Home Alabama!!! WOW, I am amazed!! We are so happy for you, but sad you won't be on the west coast anymore! It will be such a great experience for you guys going somewhere different, I feel there are many adventures ahead of you! Congratulations to Mike for working toward his goal and getting there, what a huge accomplishment.

Scott and Mal said...

Congratulations!!! I am so excited for you guys

JenC2 said...

Mike and Natalie, that is FANTASTIC! August, what a beautiful time of year to move to Alabama--ha,ha! ;o As a 9-yr. veteran of southeast Texas weather let me just say, watch out for the fire ants and cockroaches and enjoy the flowers and greenery that grow in such a lovely warm and humid climate. And remember, while you're living in the greenhouse, to grow where you are planted and you will love your time there! I love southerners and still miss Texas (excepting the heat, humidity, fire ants, and cockroaches :) Congrats on a job well done! Jennifer, Gordon & Family
p.s. I bet the cost of living is more reasonable there than on the west coast?

Kendra said...

I can't wait to hear Juliana with a southern drawl! We will surely miss you all... Owen will especially miss Juliana. I guess I better start saving for a GNO 'Bama style!;-)

Kristine said...

Congratulations! It is exciting to have a new adventure. We love the south and know you will too! Hope your transition is a smooth one.

Karley said...

Yeah...WOW...Congrats! We are so going to miss you guys living so close. This will be a great excuse for us to travel to the South to see ya'll. Luvs